Seniors, Juniors dance night away in Venice;
LEXI GOTT
News Editor
On April 26, North Harford High School’s annual prom took place at Hunt Valley Mansion.
The theme was “A Night In Venice.” The prom king and queen were named at the end of the night; our 2025 king and queen are seniors Drew Tagliaferri and Mollie Fialcowitz.
Fialcowitz explains that she “felt super excited to be named prom queen,” and that she was “so shocked when it happened!” She continues, “I wasn’t expecting it at all.” Tagliaferri starts, “I was so surprised, but also really happy and grateful for everyone that voted for me and thought I should be king.” He then states that “I was completely shocked when I won prom king. I did not think I was going to win and I kind of didn’t know what to do at that moment.”
When they found out they were nominated for prom court, they both agreed that they were surprised and excited. “I was with my boyfriend [when she found out] and I thought it would be a fun experience for our last prom,” Fialcowitz shared. Tagliaferri,
however, found out through his little sister. “[She] said she heard my name on the announcements and I didn’t know I was chosen to be on court.” He continued, “I wanted to be a court, because why not? I didn’t think I was going to win, but it couldn’t hurt to be on it –and look how it turned out.”
The king shared that he “was glad to win with [Fialcowitz] because she definitely deserved it and she’s a great person and I’ve known her for a while so it was fun to win with her,” while the queen stated that “it was so fun to win with him, and I know he was super excited, too.”
ers have congratulated me and it makes me happy to hear everyone say how deserving I am of winning it, and I’m glad I can make others happy.”
Fialcowitz said that it has been “fun since people knew I won and
PHOTO CREDIT: Lifetouch
Coming back to school as royalty has been exciting for the pair. “It feels great,” says Tagliaferri. “Lots of teach-
everyone has been so sweet!”
The dance began in the early evening, but for many students,
preparation for the dance started hours beforehand. Senior Mia Sbodio explains that her preparation began that Friday, the day before prom. “On Friday, my friends and I drove around and got everything we needed for the night. We went and got makeup, bouquets, and jewelry.” She continues, “then, early in the morning, we went and got our nails done.”
Sbodio’s dress was “royal blue, with sequins and a lace-up corset back.”
Once the dance started, attendees were met with a ballroom once they walked in.
Food and drinks were served on either side of the room, with multiple round tables on each side. The food on
the menu included chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, Italian sausage, Italian mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, a salad bar, and finally at the end of the night, a dessert bar. Senior Poppy Smith begins, “The food was very good; I didn’t get a chance to eat it last year but it was good!” Senior Brianna Cloude comments that the “pina coladas,” were her favorite part of the menu because “they were really nice when it got hot in the room.”
In terms of the dance floor, Sbodio begins to explain that “the music being played was short, snippets of songs. They were all TikTok audios and I feel like just normal, hype music should be played instead.” Senior Chase Crawford agreed with Sbodio’s statement. “It wasn’t the best music; it was my least favorite part, I think, about prom.” He goes on, “next year I think they should do things diferently, the music at our dances is always hit or miss.”
The night was a success for the guests. Sbodio then finalizes, “It was very fun, and a great way to start saying goodbye to my senior year.”
Earth Day/Tractor day celebration; Teachers share event overview
BROOKLYNN BROWN
Reporter
North Harford had their yearly Earth Day and Tractor Day celebration on Friday April 25. This has been a North Harford tradition for many years. The earth day events include students bringing their tractors to school, many kinds of animals, plants, and presentations by students about the enviorment.
The art program also participated as they offered face painting, and sold different kinds of jewelry. This year there was also an addition from the fishing club where students were able to fish out of the pond. Mrs. Laura O’Leary (agriculture teacher) shares that the NRAS (National resource agricultural science) students “present a poster and an activity” throughout the day; it’s their “SAE project.” She says it’s also her Chesapeake Bay class that participates and they’re supposed to come up with a poster on their year long project.
The large animal students also open up the barn she shares and there’s “all kinds of cool animals” that come. She also shares Mrs. Densmore makes sure that everyone is certified to bring in their tractors.
Outside groups also come and
participate including the middle schoolers and elementary schools get a chance to come over for a little bit and hangout. “It’s overall just a fun day” she shares and a nice way to be outside and to
sically the “Earth Day Dictator.”
She loves that it’s this big tradition and a nice day to highlight what some of their kids are doing in class as well.
It can also be horrible, she says
that have their certification, and she makes sure they all have the proper id. “We put the barns open and students are there to tell people about the different animals we have”. Her kids
survey to students and teachers that asked them about their favorite vacation spot. They then used their GIS skills to create a heat map of popular destinations.
PHOTO CREDIT: Abby Szramka
learn about the environment. She says North Harford has been doing this for as long as she has been here--28 years.
O’Leary shares that she is ba-
kids can be rude and cause trouble. Mrs. Aimme Densmore (agriculture teacher) also helps out and plans earth day. She says that kids drive their tractors to school
also have their “SAE projects” she shares, that they have been working on all year that they display outside.
Densmore says what she most
enjoys about this day is “everybody seeing what we do and what they have out there” and learning about agriculture and the environment and how everyone comes together. She also adds it’s a nice fun day in the spring for everybody. She says during the event she just “monitors the barn and the students” and makes sure everything is running smoothly.
Junior Ryan Chaney ran a fishing booth and shared that his topic was about four species in the North Harford High School pond. They had “bamboo cane poles for everyone to fish with” he explains. Chaney shares his favorite part about the day was “watching people have fun catching fish.” He said, “a lot of people caught their first fish that day.”
He also shares that the biggest struggle he faced “was getting people to listen and taking turns with the fishing rods.”
Senior Norah McElwain shares that she ran the “floral design booth.” She also had help from seniors Lily Heath, Bryn Cespedes and Grace Mueller. They sold small bouquets and she notes “it’s a good way for them to help make money for the program.” According to McElwain, her favorite part about the day was “being outside.”
Prom queen Mollie Fialcowitz and prom king Drew Tagliaferri pose for their post-elected picture. They are now finishing out their school year.
Students from North Harford’s GIS (Geographic Information Systems) club, offered a
Letter to dance
RILEY HEROLD Entertainment Editor
Dance, I love you. I hate you. You gave me confidence after ripping it away from me, you gave me a place to escape from the stress of everyday life, you made me closer to my mom even though we fought, you gave me life long friends that will I will cherish forever, and you gave me a teacher, a friend, a person to look up to when things were hard. You gave me so many things but also took so much.
All my life has been surrounded by one thing....dance. It’s been my whole personality since I was little. I don’t know what I would have done without it but at the same time I don’t know why I continued.
A little background information. I’ve been dancing since I was 3-years old which is a very very long time. Basically my whole entire life. I am now 18, in my final year, and I’ve spent a total of about 15 years of my life in something that I love--but hate. You would think I would have quit by now if I really hated it but that’s not me. When I commit, I fully commit.
each day. Until I started competition and then I was basically never home. I lived there. I missed so many things. I missed my brother’s baseball tournaments, I missed birthday parties, and family events. I missed going on vacations and trying new things. I missed spending time with my family. There are so many things I had to say no to, because I never wanted to miss dance. However, I’ve learned so many things throughout my years. I’ve learned to be a part of a team, to work hard, that nothing is ever given to you unless you work for it, it only takes one person to believe in you, but also one person to destroy you.
Strength through unbridled chaos; Thriving, surviving amongst anxiety’s grip
LILY
CORCORAN Copy Editor
“All my life has been surrounded by one thing....dance. It’s been my whole personality since I was little. I don’t know what I would have done without it but at the same time I don’t know why I continued.”
~Senior Riley Herold
I love dancing more than anything. I love the people, the environment, the feeling of nervousness when I’m about to go on stage and the process of waking up at 5 am and not going to bed until one in the morning. However, I hate all those things too. I hate how I was treated less than, just because I didn’t have a big personality or I wasn’t one of the favorites. I hate how no matter how hard you try you still aren’t good enough. I hate that I lost my love for it throughout the years. Why did I even stay? I still don’t know why, but I wouldn’t trade all those experiences for the world. Dance connected
me with so many people. It gave me my two best friends that I will cherish forever.
Blood roaring in your ears. Your hands trembling beyond control. Bile rising in your throat. Your heart beating faster than it ever should. I feel and have felt these every day of my life – but I am still not used to it.
Having chronic anxiety is not an experience I would wish on anyone. This disorder is, quite literally, like a chain around your neck, constantly dragging you backwards when you’re just trying to go about your day. It feels like fighting a losing battle, or only using your fists in a knifefight. More than anything, it is exhausting – but everyday, I (reluctantly) choose to roll out of bed and keep trying.
Don’t get me wrong, it absolutely sucks. I wish I didn’t have it; however, having anxiety for my entire life has taught me a few things – all of which are lessons I think we’re all due to learn.
Naturally, I’m very cautious…
You know that part in Divergent where Tris decides to jump off the building before anyone else? Yeah, no; I’m the one holding back to see if at least three more people actually live through it. The thing is, though, life doesn’t care about you enough to wait for you to see which people make it to the net at the bottom of the pit. Sometimes, you’ll have to be the first one to jump. It can go one of two ways: It either goes perfectly fine, or it goes slightly less fine and your pride is wounded. Eventually, you learn to live with it. I cannot confirm nor deny whether I have.
Anxiety, more often than not, can be paralyzing. You can’t jump when your knees are locked in place; so, the best alternative is to find a way around it –a philosophy that my dad taught me when I was a kid. Do it scared. It’s much easier said than done, obviously, but it’s important to keep it in the back of your mind. Instead of jumping, let yourself fall. The end goal is still the same, and you still feel like you’re going to vomit and cry, but at least you’re going and not passing out at the back of the line.
I wish I could give some big spiel about how I defeated my anxiety in some cool battle-esque sequence, preferably with magic swords and dragons. However, that’s not how it works. Like I said, my anxiety is chronic; it’s
written deeply into my genetics. There will probably never be a day where I wake up and feel perfectly fine, as depressing as that sounds (that’s what you get for reading a realist’s column). It’s a sad reality, but the faster you accept that, the (kind of?) easier it gets to deal with it. I didn’t figure that out until I was well into my sophomore year; that means I went a good eleven years in school dealing with what felt like a never-ending nightmare. Don’t be like me. Do it all, despite your fear.
Maybe, at the end of the day, it will turn out to be an Ecclesiastes-esque version of futility. Maybe trying to do a seemingly impossible task while your hands are shaking will end with a full-on failure. It’s hard to accept, and I can’t say that I’ve completely mastered it, but trying and failing and learning is better than to not try at all.
My advice? Do it all anyway. Talk to that person you’re interested in. Try out for a sports team. Write for a newspaper staff you had no intention of even joining. Do it with your head held high. Do it with your shaking hands curled into fists. Do it with your teeth sunken into your bleeding lips. Do. It. Scared.
Behind the scenes of people pleasing
SOPHIE SMITH Reporter
I’ve been a part of three different studios, but never fully felt at home in any of them. At first, a studio will feel like home, but then slowly that feeling is ripped away from you when you aren’t good enough. But when you grow up in that environment, it does something to you mentally. It makes you hate it.
Since age three I’ve been going to the studio at least three times a week, for maybe three hours
It gave me a topic to talk about, and make friends with. It gave me an amazing person to look up to, that was the only person to believe in me when it mattered the most. It gave me so many wonderful memories, but most importantly I got to spend time with my mom (when I wasn’t nervously pacing in the dressing room). There were a lot of unpleasant memories, but I made the most of it and created so many good ones as well. I’m thankful for what it’s done for me, but I sometimes still wish things could have been different. Dance, I love you. I hate you.
Sarah Summerfield
Features Editor
Izzy Kropkowski
Before I say anything about highschool, I want to preface that I'm a people pleaser. Basically, I do things other people want most of the time, as long as it makes them happy or helps them out. It might not cause me any happiness and I might hate it, but if it helps you, I'll do it. I’ve been this way since freshman year, even before then. I was a follower, not a leader, but no one brought it up, I figured it out. Now, I’m not saying highschool helped solve my people pleasing tendencies, because if I'm going to be honest, until my senior year hit, it worsened. Although it may
Society, Students & Culture Editor
Katie Vanarsdale
Copy Editor
Lily Corcoran
Entertainment Editor
Riley Herold
cause me some stress, if you need a question answered, I’ll find out for you. That’s just the kind of person I am.
You need to borrow a pencil I'll never get back? Sure.
You want the answers to the homework I wasn’t going to do until you needed it? No problem. You don’t know what’s going on? Me either, but I'll figure it out to help you.
I wanted people to like me and to look up to me. I wanted those same people to be able to come up to me whenever they needed something. That was my purpose for years, being likeable.
You and I both know, no one is “real" their freshman year. Everyone does things they don’t want just to find their crowds, except I would try for years to find mine. It was never good enough. I still have my people pleasing tendencies but I’ve learned how to do what’s best for me.
As highschool progressed, I gained the impression I desired for so long. People wanted to come to me for help! I was an outlet for people. Except, it was draining. I was now the therapist
Kendall Walter
IDR Editor
Sophie Smith
Events Coordinator & Business Manager
Lexi Gott
Reporters
Brooklynn Brown, Adrianna Ebberts,
Ashley Schilacci
Announcements
friend and instead of expressing my stresses, I would hear about yours.
It wasn’t what I wanted anymore.
Long story short, I ended up transferring to North Harford my junior year and I thought of it as a new start. I was still a people pleaser but I also did what was best for me.
I helped when I knew the answer. I asked questions that I also needed answers to.
The whole point of highschool is to build your personality, learn from your mistakes, and to grow as you make them. Even if you don’t see it, everyone has or will grow from these four years. I’m still learning, I’ll continue being the therapist friend and I still consider certain people before myself--but I’m my own person now. I believe that’s progress.
In the most un-cliche way possible, all I’m trying to say is that if you’re either graduating this year or just beginning, it doesn’t disadvantage others to make, not only your friends, but yourself a priority for once.
The Cry of the Hawk newspaper is published by North Harford’s Journalism II/III class. All editorials and viewpoints express the feelings of those on the staff and not necessarily those of fellow students, administrators, or teachers. Please do not hesitate to submit a letter to Advisor Bethany Birchfield in room D207. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, must be signed, and may not contain vulgarity. Sports Editor
Tech
Riley Herold
Change is Good
ASHLEY SCHILLACI Reporter
Since the beginning, I have known that I wanted to be a veterinarian, and the opportunity to get that experience presented itself here at North Harford High School. Before I came to North Harford, I attended Bel Air Middle School and Forest Lakes Elementary School. But now I am here and I couldn't be happier. Coming into freshman year, I was determined on the fact that all my so-called “friends” were going to Bel Air High School-while I was going to a new high school where I knew no one. I wanted to stay with my “friends.” I thought it would be easier for high school to start with people I knew well because most people knew each other coming into high school as freshmen. While I am here. Starting over. Now, being a senior and think-
ing back, I could have lost a huge opportunity over something so silly. Something that I thought was so important, when it wasn’t. Coming into North Harford I thought it was going to be awful the first few weeks of freshman year because I knew no one. I had to start all over again.
After a couple of weeks, I discovered people, real people, people I am still friends with today. Being in the magnet program for small animal science and getting a head start on what I would need to learn and now already know and have met so many people with similar interests. Someone I met in my AG class is now one of my good friends.
Looking back, I realize that leaving my comfort zone was one of the best decisions I have made for myself. I have always been a person that puts everyone else first but for once it felt good to put myself for and my being and as graduation gets closer I am going to pursue what I want.
The experiences I've had and the lessons I've learned here will undoubtedly shape my future. I’m grateful for the initial discomfort of starting anew. I can confidently say that every moment, whether challenging or joyful, has contributed to who I am today. North Harford was not just a new school; it was the start of an incredible adventure that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Living in dystopian worlds; Book predictions coming true
KATIE VANARSDALE
SSC Editor
You may have heard of or read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury in your sophomore year of school. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the novel, the entire plot is about what society would look like if books were all banned. The society became dangerous and devoid of all human emotion, turning people into thoughtless bodies who are only going through the motions of what they’re “supposed” to be doing.
Real life hasn't gotten that bad yet, but the writing is already on the wall. Today we can still read from a plethora of books, but some books have been listed as having content that is “too much” for some people, giving the book a place on the banned books list. Yes, our world has a banned book list.
Believe it or not, Fahrenheit 451 is on the banned books list! A book about the dangers of banning books is banned in some schools and libraries around the country. Talk about the irony. I don’t know about you, but that
Right people at right time; Ones that never leave
IZZY KROPKOWSKI Features Editor
Never in a million years did I think I would meet my best friends at such a young age, especially it being 13 years ago, the first day of kindergarten, at 7:30 in the morning… And a random day three years ago, the first day of freshman year, and – honestly – the day I was born.
we go in life and the distance that follows it.
But onto family, because it’s not just my friends that have made this impact on my life. My parents and my sister, though I was born with them, have been with me literally since day one. I still live with my parents, so of course they are a part of my life in every aspect (even if I don’t always want them to be), but I am secretly not always complaining about that. If I'm being honest, I think what drew me to my friends is that their love and compassion reminded me of my family, and that was the kind of energy I wanted to surround myself with and the type of friends I had always wished to have.
Another big part of me being able to show my personality is because of work. I have worked at the same place for three years now. Needless to say again, we have all worked with people we are not a fan of. But not until the past year, have I been able to make some real friendships with people I work with. It was weird at first working with people younger than me or way older than me. But, I was able to become friends with people I wouldn’t have normally befriended. Those people helped me to get out of my shell and be less shy at work which led to me showing more of my personality in school or in everyday life.
sends alarm bells ringing in my mind. At what point did we as a society get to the point where we deemed books about the human experience as too much for kids to read about?
Now, I’m not saying that age limits don’t have a place in the world, but there is a difference between telling a ten year old that they can’t read To Kill a Mockingbird because it's too mature for them, and not letting that kid read the book at all. Age limits are designed to make sure that kids can fully understand and process what they’re reading. That doesn’t mean that the book isn’t valid or can offer a new insight into the world.
We live in a world ridden with crime, poverty, and dysfunctional relationships. By not allowing books to be read in schools that go into detail about these parts of life, it means we’re failing as a society. Reading a novel that talks about these parts of the world gives kids a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Don’t take the chance for kids to experience society in its entirety away from them. Give us the chance to see the nitty gritty of the world around us. Censoring our view of the world as kids only leaves us naive and overwhelmed when we grow up and the rose-tinted glasses fall away. I promise, we can handle the books that give us an uncensored view of the world. Don’t take our choice away from us. We deserve that much, at least.
To be honest, I was never a people-person, and I’m still not. I thought people were weird, but I guess that was because I didn’t really know them yet; but, I also didn’t understand the concept of friends when I was four. Maybe it was due to luck or some convenient intervention. Maybe it was the fact that I knew these people weren’t going anywhere for the next decade. So... I decided to try out the whole friend thing, and it turns out, I am a big fan! I am pretty good at it too – or so I’m told.
Thirteen years later, I still have the same three best friends. Now, that doesn’t mean we never fight or argue or disagree, but as we’ve grown up, we continue to grow together. With growth comes growing pain. I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have our fair share of issues – because our personalities are a lot, especially since some of us are yappers and others are quiet –it’s safe to say though we can all be a bit of both. Looking back, I realize how constantly I needed them. I don’t know where I would be or even who I would be without them.
I know it might sound impossible or crazy, but honestly, there was friendship at first sight. My first ever friend I made is a ginger, so I guess that’s what made her stand out; well, that and her Hello Kitty shirt. But, she just looked like a fun person to be around, so we both just decided we were going to be friends, never guessing we would be best friends and college roommates. Looking back, they were the type of people I could always be around, even though, I’m not a big fan of people. And an added bonus is that they can put up with me and the thousands of personalities I have. And as cliché as it sounds, these are the types of friends I will have regardless of where
My sister went to college as I entered middle school, and although she wasn’t far away, we still didn’t live in the same house. She called me all the time – even when I didn’t want to talk – and I actually really needed that time to talk to her about anything and everything. Even though most of the time it was her yapping about life and I had no choice but to listen. Then again, we both knew I had nothing more interesting going on in my life.
To this day, I am still not great with calling her as much as I should, but she still calls all the time. After college, she moved home for a year, and to say the least, I was not a fan of having her live at home after just being me for four years. If I’m being honest, the worst part about her moving back home was the fact that I had to go back to sharing a bathroom with her. Two years ago, she moved out and went to Tennessee. So, there’s a bigger distance now between us than just the wall in between our rooms. But, I still need her all the same regardless of how old we get or how far apart we are.
We’ve all had a lot of teachers, especially throughout thirteen years. I am sure many people would agree with me on this, that we have all had teachers we didn’t like. I’m not going to name drop or anything, but there were definitely a few I was not a fan of. But there were also a few that have helped shape who I am. Especially ones that have been with me since my freshman year of high school when I really started to become myself. More than anyone, Mrs. Chandler had such a huge impact on my life and I got to have her as a teacher for three years. If it wasn’t for her, I would not have been able to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people hosting Mr. NH, because freshman year me NEVER would have done such a thing. Although she is no longer my teacher, I know she is never more than an email away, so, yes –I have emailed her quite a lot this year alone. I only realize now the impact she had on me as she came into my life at a time I needed her most.
Needless to say, I have two close friends at work that I wouldn't be able to get through the rough shifts I have without them. Especially when we debrief over text about all of the crazy things that happen, which is more often than you’d think. And side note, just so you know, I do have my work bestie to thank for many things but a big reason is because she made me take a chance on someone who ended up being one of the most important people in my life.
So it’s pretty safe to say you can call her my work bestie and yap buddy. So, as much as I cpmplain about work, I do have my job to thank for meeting some of my life long friends. With all of this, I have realized that even though I’ll be leaving my childhood friends, my work friends, my parents, and my family, I have said it before and I will say it again: I know they all are never more than a phone call away, even though I absolutely hate calling people. But that aside, I will probably have to remind myself of this next year. Knowing that each of them came into my life at a point when I needed them most makes this easier for me. Now, I may not be going too far from home like some others are. I will never fully get the chance to thank them for everything they have done, because just saying “thank you” is not enough for how much they have shaped me and my life. The people that mean the most to me might not be physically right next to me, but that doesn’t mean they are not in my life. I guess it’s safe to say I found “my people” early in life who have stuck with me for a long time, and probably will for the rest of my life. Not to be arrogant or anything, but I guess being a picky person can have its perks, especially when picking friends because I can really pick some amazing people to be friends with. Needless to say, I am beyond lucky to realize this now as I head into the next chapter of my life.
Best Buddies spreads acceptance throughout NH
LILA PARRY News Editor
Best Buddies has had a busy couple of months with World Down Syndrome day and Autism Acceptance Month. The club continues to spread awareness and acceptance throughout the school.
On March 21, the Best Buddies board members planned ‘Rock Your Socks’ to raise awareness for Down Syndrome. On this day, students wore their craziest, most colorful, and mismatched socks. By wearing these socks, people symbolize the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome.
People who participated received a sticker and a donut. Best Buddies president, senior Mollie Fialcowitz, says, “The participation was amazing.” On Friday, throughout the school students everywhere were wearing their craziest socks. “So many people wore crazy socks which shows how supportive our school is,” says the senior.
Throughout the month of March, the word of this event was spread through social media, word of mouth, and posters in the hallways. “We posted on the track instagram page and the FCA page, which helped spread the word,” said Fialcowitz, “we also posted posters to have people see them,” she continued. Along with that, all the board mem-
bers and members of Best Buddies spread the word throughout the school.
This event had many positive aspects and students showed so much excitement for this cause. “My favorite part of this event was that we had so many people show support and love,”
member junior Kendall Chandler. “They did it for World Down Syndrome Day and had a really great turnout, and I thought it would be a cool way to kick off Autism Acceptance Month at North Harford,” continued Chandler.
“The purpose of the event was to get students excited about Autism Acceptance Month and to promote acceptance and inclusion in our school,” stated the junior. By wearing sunglasses, students made it clear that bullying has no place at North Harford.
Scrambling
for study hall, cover-to-cover; Students prepare for exam season
LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor
said Fialcowitz. Along with that the club also planned activities for Autism Acceptance Month. On April 2, national Autism Acceptance Day, students ‘blocked out the bullies’ by wearing a pair of sunglasses. “I actually saw the idea for Block Out the Bullies on the Havre De Grace best buddies instagram,” said board
The club had to think a bit outside the box for advertising due to the Best Buddies Instagram account being suspended. “Even so we were able to use social media by partnering with other clubs and teams and asking them to participate and share the flyer on their instagrams,” explained Chandler. Varsity club, FCA, and the track team shared the flyer to spread the word about the event. “It was cool to see athletes from all of these groups wearing their sunglasses all day, even at practice,” said Chandler.
According to Chandler and her other Best Buddies board members, they feel the special day turned out very well. “It was such a joy to see students taking a stand and participating. I hope that we are able to do it again next year and have even more participation.”
The 2024-2025 school year has gone by, which means that AP exam season is quickly approaching. Testing season can be stressful for students who take AP classes, especially when they’re hoping to earn college credit from their test scores. Fortunately, though, students have different ways of preparing for their exams. AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course.
The first AP exams start on Monday, May 5, according to CollegeBoard, with biology, Latin, European history, and microeconomics having their tests first. These will run until Friday, May 16, with Physics 1, Spanish literature and culture, and psychology holding out till the end. According to NPR, over three million students all over the country will be taking one or more AP exams. Obviously, there is a lot of work that goes into preparing for these exams, from both students and teachers. Some resources that Hawks recommend are “Quizlet,” “Knowt,” and other specific resources from the internet. Teachers have their own advice for students who may be nervous to take the AP tests. History teacher Mr. Benjamin Scarborough says, “In order to be successful and avoid a stressful situation, students should start preparing sev-
eral weeks before the AP exam. In their free time, they should study their notes, make use of online resources provided by teachers or the College Board, and work through a preparatory book if possible.”
Other good tips for studying include studying older materials – The Princeton Review states that “Refreshing your memory on a regular basis is the best strategy for effective learning” – as well as investing in an AP prep book, which can “help you review essential content, introduce you to test format and question types, and help you practice for the big day.”
According to College Board, AP tests are scored on a scale from one to five – one meaning a student will receive “no recommendation,” and five meaning a student is “extremely qualified” in the subject. Many colleges and universities allow students advanced placement (the ability to skip the college-equivalent of the AP course) for scores of three or above.
Exam scores are released in early-to-mid July. Each year a student takes an AP exam, according to College Board, they have the chance to send a free score report to the college, university, or scholarship organization of their choice. For students going to Harford Community College, the official college website states that a score of three or more is accepted in place of college credits.
Annual Mr. NH show took place
IZZY KROPKOWSKI
Features Editor
On Friday, March 7, the annual Mr. North Harford show took place at the Hawks Nest. 14 boys all fought for the crown, with senior Mason French taking home the victory.
The show consisted of many parts including formal-wear, when the boys wore their best formal outfits and escorted their moms across the stage. The active wear section consisted of the boys showing off their best “active” outfits while sharing hobbies and interests of the contestants.
Next, each boy participated in an act to show off their talents. The next section was spirit wear, each boy showed off their Hawks pride and answered questions during Q&A to show off their personalities. The show concluded with a group dance that the contestants spent weeks practicing and learning.
There were contestants from every grade this year that participated. Freshmen contestants included AJ Ward, Joshua McKenley, Aaron Blake, Cayden Lujan, and Jimmy O’Conner. Lucas Hale was the only sophomore to participate, and he returned from last year.
Juniors Xavier Dunaway and Jacob Frank joined. Six seniors also fought for the crown, including Mason French, Kavin Carter,
Josh Steltzer, Tucker Deal, Cael Sims, and returning contestant Drew Tagliaferri.
Each contestant showed off their hidden talents during each of their acts. This portion of the show started off with freshmen contestants, including Lujan playing the violin. Next was O’Conner, who sang and played guitar to Zach Bryan’s “Heading South.”
The senior acts started with comedy from Carter. Next was Steltzer performing a piece with his jazz band to a song he wrote for the show.
French, Deal, and Sims per-
The last freshmen act was Blake, Ward, and McKenley having a donut-eating competition, seeing who could eat three donuts the fastest while having other contestants feed it to them; Blake took the victory.
Hale sang and danced to a mashup of songs throughout the decades. Dunaway and Frank did the Chip and Dale skit from Saturday Night Live.
formed a synchronized swimming act accompanied by Tagliaferri as the shark. The last act of the night was Tagliaferri’s sumo wrestling act accompanied by his opponent, Dunaway, and was refereed by Blake. Tagliaferri took the victory.
This year’s show was put on by the journalism staff with the as-
sistance from the yearbook staff. The show's hosts consisted of seniors Lexi Gott, Riley Herold, and Izzy Kropkowski, as well as a field reporter, junior Kendall Walter. The hosts continued the use of the “Dance Moms” pyramid to rank the boys throughout the show.
O’Conner mentions he is glad he decided to join this year but “will probably not do it again until senior year because I want to watch a
few.” The best part was “the acts, but just waiting in the dressing room and hanging out while the show was happening,” he adds.
For the freshman, the most “difficult part was the Q&A because you’re on the spot and have to be creative and funny.” Overall, he says, it was a “memorable experience.”
French says he was “really surprised when my name was called, and I wasn’t expecting to win.” French also thought that Deal and Sims deserved some recognition, since they were a huge part of the act.
The best part was “doing the whole thing with friends and coming up with our own act that hopefully others would find funny,” French adds. The most difficult part for the senior was “overcoming nerves, especially in the beginning when the spotlight was on us,” he adds. But the sunglasses French wore for the Q&A section made it hard to see, so it took some of the pressure off. Overall, French says he would “tell people to do it in the future” as he had a lot of fun and a good experience to make a fool of himself in front of an audience!
The final performance of the show was the group dance, this year again it was choreographed by seniors Abby Szramka and Olive Callon. Szramka and Callon choreographed, taught, and made a mashup of songs for the dance. Returning winner Ace Baran returned to the Nest to say a few words to the audience and contestants as well as announcing the winner and passing the crown onto French at the end of the night. Baran says he “was looking forward to coming back and watching the show” all year as the show is very special to him.
The 14 contestants drum-roll as the winner of the crown was announced. Senior Mason French stole the victory and the crown.
PHOTO CREDIT: Lifetouch
Students pose for Block out the Bullies. Taking a stand against bullying throughout NHHS.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ms. Kolbi Stahl
Hawks head to Ocean City
KATIE VANARSDALE SSC Editor
On Tuesday, March 11, eight of North Harford’s students set out to join the ranks of high schoolers and middle schoolers from all throughout the state of Maryland. These representatives convened in Ocean City for the Maryland Association of Student Councils convention, often referred to as the MASC convention.
Every year, eight NHHS SGA members are given the opportunity to attend the convention and represent their school. While at the convention, they will have the opportunity to vote on their state officers and legislation, attend workshops, and even go to a dance.
The convention spans for three days every March. Students from Harford County are bussed in on a coach bus as an added bonus. This year's Hawks who will be in attendance are freshman Laura Reil, freshman Emily Porrovicchio, sophomore Jonathon Swan-
ner, sophomore Anastasia Stewart, sophomore Camden Meusel, junior Ambar Lara Arteaga, junior Katherine Vanarsdale, and junior Liam Ehrhart.
“This isn’t my first time going, as I went last year,” says Artea-
NHHS has eight voting spots in MASC legislation.
HCRASC had one of the biggest delegations at the convention.
PHOTO CREDIT: Staff
ga, so she's “looking forward to hanging out with [friends] and learning more about the government.” During the convention, students get the opportunity to
sit in meetings and vote on if they support or don’t support laws that affect the school system in the Maryland legislative branch. Other Hawks, “heard about the convention through SGA meetings and at the HCRASC meeting,” says Stewart. HCRASC, which stands for the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils, is sending eighty-six representatives to the MASC convention this year, a record high for the association.
Every year, a motivational speaker is chosen to speak at the congregation, with Ed Gerety being chosen to speak at the 2025 convention.
Meusel was looking forward to “hearing Ed Gerety speak” at the convention. Gerety has over thirty years of public speaking experience, having reached a wide audience of over 3.5 million people across all fifty states and Canada. Gerety has spent his life as a motivational speaker, author and leadership trainer, dedicated to training the next generation of leaders.
FFA members speak their minds;
Heading to public speaking
ADRIANA EBBERTS Reporter
The Leadership Development Event (LDE) competition provides students with an opportunity to develop public speaking and leadership skills through prepared speeches, extemporaneous speaking, and other competitive events. Participants spend months preparing and refining their speeches before delivering them in front of judges. Three juniors – Grayson Whaley, Samantha Hawk, and Miranda Buettner – shared their experiences before and after the competition, detailing their preparation, challenges, and reflections.
Whaley spent several months preparing for the competition. His speech focused on the importance of agritourism, discuss-
ing its economic, educational, and consumer literacy benefits.
To prepare, he attended weekly coaching sessions with advisors, practiced independently, and sought feedback from professionals. He found that one of the biggest challenges he faced was overcoming writer’s block when drafting his speech.
Hawk also began practicing early, starting in January. She spent two to three hours writing her speech, which focused on the negative effects of breeding flatfaced dog breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs. To prepare, she attended FFA coaching sessions, made note cards, and rehearsed her speech regularly. This was her second year competing, and she felt more confident than in the previous year.
Buettner began preparing at the
end of November and practiced until March 8. Her speech emphasized the importance of spaying female animals. As this was her first LDE competition, she found comfort in being surrounded by friends before delivering her speech. She dedicated significant time to memorization and practiced by reading her speech to others. One of her biggest challenges was fully memorizing her content, which she found more difficult than expected.
When walking into the competition, Whaley felt mostly confident but experienced some nervousness. During his speech, he “stumbled” on a few words but believed he met his personal standards. Hawk also felt confident and thought her speech went well. However, she encountered a brief issue when two of
competition
her note cards were out of order. Buettner did not feel nervous before the competition and was pleased that she did not stumble over her speech as much as she had feared.
Each competitor reflected on their performance and identified areas for improvement. Whaley believed he could improve his confidence and tone, as some of the feedback he received suggested he should speak more assertively. Despite this, he was proud of stepping out of his comfort zone and improving his public speaking skills. Hawk noted that she could have made more eye contact with the judges. Despite this, she was satisfied with how she handled the judges’ questions, as she had prepared responses for all of them. Buettner planned to improve her memori-
zation skills and eye contact for future competitions. She emphasized the importance of eye contact, as judges deduct points for lack of engagement.
The participants encouraged other students to take part in LDE competitions. Whaley emphasized that public speaking in FFA provides valuable skills that benefit individuals throughout life. Hawk highlighted how these events helped build her confidence. Buettner advised future competitors to prioritize memorization, as it significantly affects overall performance. All three students expressed interest in competing again next year, with some considering switching to extemporaneous speaking. The LDE competition remains a valuable experience for students, offering an opportunity to grow.
Far-reaching stories: News you may have missed
LILY CORCORAN
Copy Editor
Senator breaks 68-year-old record in historic protest
Senator Cory Booker (D –NJ) broke a long-standing record across two days for the longest filibuster to ever hit the Senate floor. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a filibuster is defined as an “attempt to delay or block a vote on a piece of legislation or a confirmation,” usually through a speech. On Monday, March 31, Booker spoke for 25 hours and five minutes (CNN) in protest of “harms” that President Trump is inflicting on Americans, including “harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the foun-
dations of our democracy, and any sense of common decency” (Bloomberg). Prior to Booker’s historic movement, the longest filibuster was held by the late Senator Strom Thurmond (D – SC) in protest of the Civil Rights Movement in 1957 (The Associated Press). The 55-yearold Senator began his speech at 7 p.m. with a vow to keep his protest going as long as he was “physically able” and with nothing, he told CNN, but a Bible verse in his pocket.
Researchers ‘revive’ previously-extinct species
The dire wolf, popularized by the TV series Game of Thrones, went extinct over 13,000 years ago (The New York Times).
However, in April, the company Colossal Biosciences claimed that they revived the species through the rewriting of ancient DNA (Time Magazine). The pups, named Romulus and Remus, respectively, are about six months old and already weigh around 80 pounds; both of them, although they’ve been bred and raised in captivity, apparently exhibit “wild lupine” behavior and retreat whenever someone tries to come near them (Time Magazine). A third pup, Khaleesi, is three-months old. According to Colossal Biosciences, the company, which employs over 130 scientists, has a list of species that they want to bring back, such as the woolly mammoth, the dodo
bird, and more. However, some independent experts say that the wolves are not actually dire wolves, but “genetically modified gray wolves” (BBC), while others argue that this is a case of de-extinction, which, according to Dr. Beth Shapiro, is “recreating animals with the same characteristics.”
Pope Francis, leader of RCC since 2013, passes at age 88
On Sunday, April 20 – Easter Sunday, to be exact – Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, died of a stroke and heart failure, according to CNN. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, the Pope was voted into his position by
a papal conclave after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Prior to his death, Francis met with vice president J.D. Vance and discussed “their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump’s commitment to restoring world peace,” (AP News) as well as an “exchange of opinions,” according to the Vatican – namely on migrant rights. More than 50,000 people have been queued to pay their respects to Francis at St Peter’s Basilica, according to the BBC. Cardinal Kevin Farrell will act as the head of the Catholic Church until a new Pope has been chosen.
Bleach, burns, bygones, buoyancy; Gaining peace through pain
LEXI GOTT News Editor
My greatest high school achievement is being a blonde.
As a kid, I always had long, bright blonde hair. As I got older, it got darker and darker. I was basically a brunette by the time I started high school. But, for some reason, I was so insistent on the fact that I was a blonde.
I was not blonde. At least, I wasn’t in my first year of high school. And, I know what you’re probably thinking – why is this girl writing her senior column about her hair?
It’s more about just my hair. You’ll see.
In freshman year, I completely lost myself. To be honest, it was the worst year of my life, as it is for so many. I had no sense of my
own self; I was a copy-and-paste of those I surrounded myself with, just trying to fit in and act older than I really was. I didn’t realize it, but the person I was four years ago is not the same girl I see when I look in the mirror now.
Sophomore year was – well, something. Thinking back on it, I realize that this was the year I truly began to find myself. It took awhile. The first half of the year was rough. I finally let go of whoever I was impersonating from freshman year. And by saying goodbye to that, I embarrassed myself a lot. I was trying to figure out who I was, what I liked to wear, who I wanted to surround myself with, etc.
If you knew me then, then you know just how insane it was to watch. It seriously felt like I was erasing every part about myself over and over again just to find my identity. I didn’t know what the most important part of the process was the day I dyed my hair.
I just wanted to be blonde for my Taylor Swift concert. There was literally no other reason for dying my hair. And so, three days before the concert, I sat in a salon chair.
Experiencing the sting of bleach sitting on my hair for the first time is a pain that I will nev-
er forget. My neck was leaning backwards from the weight of all the foils intertwined in my hair. I think I was there for five hours. My poor hair stylist (love you, Haeven) had to stay past closing hours because of me.
They say hair holds memories, and I believe it. As I felt the sting and discomfort, it was like all of the pain I had felt in the past two years was literally lifting away. The bleach stung horribly, but in the end it was all worth it.
Pain is essential for growth –and not just the pain of bleach processing on the roots of your hair, but also true, raw, human pain. I wish I understood this four years ago. Everyone knows that if you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow, but I never truly sat with that and understood it until now.
Blonde is more than just a color of my hair to me. It represents finding myself. Healing. As I maintained the color, my hair got lighter and brighter each time, truly symbolizing the healing I went through all of high school.
So, yes. I said it. Dying my hair blonde is my greatest high school achievement. Not because I’m some blonde ditz or something, but because I was able to release myself from my own mental cage, find myself, and heal.
Make Daylight Savings standard; You like longer days? Keep them
As March 9 passed, losing an hour of sleep is something that most Americans have just experienced – a groggy Sunday with a dark morning. Many seem to be looking forward to the summer months for the longer days. This brings up the recurring question about Daylight Savings Time and the debate on whether the United States should continue to spring forward or fall back. Daylight Savings Time has multiple positive impacts on the citizens of the US, such as economic and social benefits.
When people say they like the longer summer days, this is partially due to transitioning to the summer daylight hours, when people are more productive and active, rather than the morning when most are asleep.
The importance of longer evenings is one that many do not appreciate as much as they talk about it. One topic of discussion from this is the changing of
daylight in the morning to daylight in the evening. Time-Time net says that it talks about how when there is one hour more of darkness in the morning and one hour less in the evening. “This makes it possible for more people to travel home from work and school in daylight, which is much safer than in darkness.”
According to car crash statistics, evening crashes become 30% more likely from September to November, due to the darker lighting conditions and the transition from daylight savings to standard time (Bieber). So based on this evidence, when we transition from daylight saving to regular standard time accidents increase this is during the fallback time.
The benefits of longer evenings may even have a beneficial impact on physical activity.The results show that “45.5% of respondents indicated that daylight saving had caused them to change the time of day they were physically active” as well as saying that “27% of respondents had increased the time spent participating in physical activity.”
Daylight saving also has a positive economic benefit for businesses and cultural activities. Joseph Stromberg from Vox.com writes that since people “take short trips and buy things after work — but not before — so a longer DST slightly increases sales”
A rebuttal that some have against daylight is the fact that
What’s Left Behind
One of the most valuable things I have learned throughout my high school career is that at the end of the day, nobody else really matters. I know that sounds pretty selfish--but it's true.
Sometimes I just think to myself what may have happened if I had done something differently. I relive certain situations in my head as if I can go back and change the outcome. Change what I might have said or how I reacted. I sure wish I could, but that's not how life works. You can’t change the past.
The past is a lesson. It's how you grow, how you move on, how you better yourself. It's what helps us to keep going each day.
on other people? People's everyday decisions, everyday actions. Why worry so much about what other people will think? What they will have to say. Nobody truly knows everything about you. Every single detail. Every single thought in your head.
But if this is true, then why do I care so much about what everyone else has to say?
I know I shouldn't care but what if I do? It’s like my whole world revolves around it. No. Revolved around it. I let it take over, I let it take control of me. The truth is, it's hard to be different--because that leaves room for judgement. That scared me.
This year, I began to realize how much caring had impacted me. All the opportunities I had missed out on because I was scared.
I was scared of what everyone else would think. What everyone else would have to say. I was scared I wouldn't meet their “perception” of me. The “standards” they had set for me. But they didn't care, they didn't even know. What if there was no perception? No standards?
I was always so busy trying to please everyone else, but I never really thought about what pleased myself.
What did I want?
it messes with the human's natural sleep-wake cycle. Many sleep experts have agreed that the time shift and losing vs gaining an hour of sleep can make people drowsy and more prone to stress during the shifting periods. This is true, the effects that turning back the clock or shifting it forward do have an effect on the body, just as it would any other time you miss an hour of sleep at night.
The real concern is how the lighting changes the natural wake and sleep cycle of the body aka needed sunlight to wake up vs dark mornings. Or the change when you go from sunny mornings to dark ones. The solution is simple: have permanent daylight saving implemented. There is no need to shift back and forth between daylight saving or not having a continually shifted clock would reap all the benefits like longer evenings, economic boosts and social time; without adding the drowsiness on top of it. Being shifted an hour ahead of standard time so that we have more daylight in the evening rather than the morning when it's not needed as much. So, although the claim for making daylight saving time has rebuttals to sleep rhythm, drowsiness as well as darker morning. Most if not all these claims can be rebutted by making daylight saving standard and not switching back and forth. The shift of daylight to the evening hours is a large gain despite the small downfalls that might be a result.
I wish I could change a lot of things. Time travel and change anything I want. I wish I could change people. What people said about me, what people thought about me. But mostly I wish I could change how much I thought people cared about me.
Because the truth is nobody really cares. At least not that much. It may seem like they do, but they are not losing sleep thinking about you. Everyone is too busy living their own lives. No one has time to worry so deeply about someone else's life.
And if that's true then why do people's lives depend so much
The amazing part about life is you get to live it however you want. We’re all surrounded by so many different people each day, and yet everyone's life is so different. And everyone is in full control of their own life. No matter what you do in life, people will always have something to say. So do what you want. Life is too short. As my mom tells me “do all the things, so you dont regret it.”
But at the end of the day, not everyone is going to understand you. Not everyone is going to agree with everything you do. And not everyone is going to like you. But that’s what makes everyone so unique and different. I think it's so hard to be different... but it's even harder to try and be someone you're not.
Congrats Seniors!
BROOKLYNN BROWN Reporter
KENDALL WALTER Sports Editor
World language classes host weddings; Learning traditions worldwide
LILA PARRY News Editor
It’s wedding season for the French and Spanish classes at North Harford!
To learn more about Spanish and French culture, students were chosen to play a role in a mock wedding.
Weddings took place in both the Spanish IV and French IV classes. “It’s part of a unit titled Love and Friendship and focuses
to write a short creative story in French about a couple that we chose together in class to get married,” stated the French teacher. “The story included how the couple met, what funny obstacles they encountered while planning the wedding, and where they’d go on their honeymoon.”
The purpose of the French wedding is very similar to the purpose of having a Spanish
in the classroom. The students continue to learn about different cultural traditions.
on cultural practices and traditions,” said French teacher Mrs. Larissa Arist.
“For this event, students learned about a traditional wedding ceremony by reading and listening to authentic articles and videos in French,” explained Arist. After they did that, the students then acted out the wedding in class. “On the day of the wedding, people played the roles of various people in the story. They had to write and deliver a toast at the reception as well,” said Arist.
Along with acting out the wedding, the students got to create a story for the wedding. “They had
wedding. Students got to explore similarities and differences between cultural practices in the U.S. compared to Spanish-speaking countries. The unit is called “Pasajes de la vida – passages of life chapter,” said Spanish teacher Mrs. Jean Buttitta. In this unit, students learn about baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and funerals.
For one of the Spanish IV classes, senior Emma Clayton was chosen to be the bride. The bride and groom were chosen by getting voted by their classmates.
“I thought it was fun,” stated Clayton, “I didn’t mind being the bride. I was a little nervous about
speaking the vows in front of my classmates because I had to speak in Spanish,” she explained. Overall, she feels the event was very fun. “The best part was after when we got to eat cake and other snacks,” stated Clayton. Along with that the senior also enjoyed having her best friends, seniors Hannah Arnold and Addie Edwards, as bridesmaids in the wedding.
In the wedding first the bridesmaids and maid of honor walked down the aisle. “One of my classmates, Josh Steltzer, played the father of the bride, and so he walked me down the aisle. Then the priest gave a speech then Mason and I said our vows,” explained Clayton.
There are many different traditions that take place in a Spanish wedding. “There is a tradition where the bride and groom wear a lasso around each other to signify unity,” says Clayton.
In the French wedding, sophomore Viktor Yankop played the groom. “I was supposed to be the groom’s best man, but the groom [senior Logan Kerrigan] was sick the day of the ceremony, so I ended up being the groom since I was the only other boy in the class,” said Yankop. The French students got to pick the role that they played due to having a small class of eleven people. “I enjoyed my role overall; it was fun to do things like exchange rings with the bride, and go walk through the hallways, even though it was a bit embarrassing,” stated Yankop.
The students got to learn a lot about how weddings in France work. “For instance, in France, instead of a wedding cake, they eat something like a croquembouche,” said Yankop. A croquembouche is a cream puff tower. Overall this experience created a fun and unique opportunity for the students to learn in a different way from a traditional classroom setting and to put what they have learned into practice.
Little Shop of Horrors
RILEY HEROLD
Entertainment editor
On April 11 & 12 North Harford drama department
doing it but it was definitely a lot harder and a lot more bodily effort then I thought I would need for it. I was incredibly sore from it by the end, but I wouldn’t change my mind about doing it.”
This year’s musical production included new technology including a projection screen and a puppet. Chad Bavis playing Seymour is featured on the left and Alex Manzari playing Audrey is featured on the right
PHOTO CREDIT: Yearbook Staff
musical Little Shop of Horrors made its debut, starring juniors Alex Manzari as Audrey, Chad Bavis as Seymour, and senior Amelia Joyner as Audrey 2.
The show also included a student choreographer, senior Kira Holt.
The show is about a nerdy florist who finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed flesh and blood according to IMDb.
The musical features songs including the more well known ones Prologue (“Little Shop of Horrors”) , “Skid Row (Downtown)”, “Feed Me (Git It)” and “Suddenly, Seymour” as well as songs like Manzari’s favorite: “Call Back in the Morning”. (stageagent)
Joyner voiced Audrey 2 also known as the plant. This was Joyner’s first and last show on stage. Previously, Joyner worked to help run the tech crew, but this year was their first time on stage. Joyner stated, “I was really nervous for the first night, but for the final show I was more sad because it was my last show but I think the audience really enjoyed it. It was an amazing experience and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
The person behind the scenes and the puppeteer for Audrey 2 was senior Madison Spangler. Spangler volunteered for this role. They said “I wanted to be the puppeteer, I asked to specifically do it. I was really looking forward to
Spangler continued, “I did have one problem though. The outfit I wore underneath the puppet went missing. It turns out someone accidentally moved the box. But we found it so everything worked out but it did scare me at first.”
Manzari stated, “My favorite part of this whole process was probably tech week when everything started to come together with sets and costumes. That’s when a lot of us started to lock in and got a lot closer.”
She continued, “I think the show went really well, I thought it was awesome. One thing that happened was that one of my props got moved, so I had to bring a giant toothbrush on stage instead of a mop but I worked with it and thought it was funny.”
Senior Olivia Minichiello’s favorite part was the senior circle. In between the two Saturday performances everyone gets into one big circle, while the seniors create a smaller circle in the center. Minichiello stated, “It’s where seniors talk about their time in drama, mainly giving thanks to people and how drama has affected their lives.”
After the opening night show, the cast all went to IHOP together to celebrate. After closing night everyone went to Manzari’s house for a giant cast party as a good way to say farewell to the show.
World language students applied what they learned to a “wedding”
PHOTO CREDIT: Larissa Arist
Sunrise on the Reaping warns against propaganda; New Hunger Games novel hits shelves
LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor
Spoilers ahead! Sunrise on the Reaping is the newest addition to the Hunger Games series, released on March 18. The novel follows the story of Haymitch Abernathy, the winner of the fiftieth Hunger Games and the eventual mentor of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
For anyone who’s never read The Hunger Games, here is a quick synopsis, according to Goodreads: The Hunger Games is a 2008 novel that takes place in the dystopian country of Panem, where twelve districts sent two children between the ages of 12 and 18 to fight to the death in a televised competition as punishment for rebelling against the corrupt Capitol, the ditzy ruling class. The titular novel came out in
2008 (Goodreads), and the following sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, were released in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In 2020, author Suzanne Collins released The Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel that followed a younger President Coriolanus Snow mentoring District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird. In Sunrise on the Reaping, a younger Haymitch Abernathy is forced to participate in the Hunger Games after trying to protect his girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird, from being attacked by Peacekeepers.
The Hunger Games focuses on many political themes, which has led to the series being banned in multiple states due to its “offensive aspects that mock hierarchical societies” (Charger Press). Sunrise on the Reaping, thematically, covers propaganda and its
role in oppressive societies (Elle). For example, during the Reaping (when tributes are chosen at random), a brutal execution is removed from video footage, and reactions are refilmed for dramatics. After Haymitch wins his Quarter Quell games, the footage is spliced and heavily edited to hide his rebellion within the arena.
Propaganda, historically, has been used to skew public opinion in a certain way. History teacher Mr. Benjamin Scarborough explains that, “Using various types of media, [the] government has a tremendous amount of power to manipulate public opinion through various forms of propaganda. Historically, it has been used to do so during World War I, World War II, during the Cold War – and arguably, even following that time.”
NHHS students create book trailers; Junior makes it to final round of competition
LILA PARRY News Editor
North Harford High School’s interactive media students create book trailers and compete against other students across the state. Junior Keegan Huss’s trailer was selected for the final round.
“I did it for one of my pathway classes. Basically what you had to do was make a video about a book,” explained Huss. The video included details about a book, just like a movie trailer. It was given as a project for the class and gave students the opportunity to compete against other schools.
“It was a competition, so people submitted things from all around the state and then if your video got chosen in the final round then you get to go to a premier at the library,” explained Huss. The junior’s book trailer ended up being chosen in the final round, so Huss got to go to the premier.
“The premiere was very formal. It had a red carpet and a formal dress code,” stated Huss. At the premiere the students watched each other’s videos and then voted for the best one in four different categories. “There were probably about 25 students from all around the state,” explained Huss. The junior got to watch many other book trailers. “My favorite was the Hunger Games book trailer I saw,” said Huss.
Students could choose any book to make into a trailer. Huss chose Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber. This number one New York Times bestselling novel combines dark fantasy with a fairy tale. The junior told the story of this novel through the video.
This project wasn’t super quick and simple, like some may expect. Instead, it took lots of time and hard work to create. “With a lot of editing on Photoshop, Indesign, and Premiere Pro, it took me about four and a half hours to edit,” stated Huss.
Oldest Disney movie receives new look
KATIE VANARSDALE
SSC Editor “grossed just over $1 billion” said Forbes.com.
1937 marked an important year for Walt Disney Studios. This was the year that the company created their very first fulllength animated film.
Eighty-eight years after its release, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is being added to the ranks of Disney’s live action remakes.
Set to be released on March 21 of this year, the movie features actors Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap.
In its opening weekend, the movie brought in “$42,206,415” domestically, according to boxofficemojo.com.
To the regular person, this seems like a lot of money, but in the movie industry, this number isn’t mind boggling. For comparison, the live-action version of The Little Mermaid made “$95,578,040” according to boxofficemojo.com.
The live-action Aladdin
Disney has been on a crusade to remake some of their classic movies.
These “live-action and CGI remakes provide Disney with a cushion to offset any potential box-office upsets in any given fiscal quarter,” says businessinsider. com.
Not every fan believes that the remakes are a good idea. “I don’t like how most of the live-action ones are so dramatically different from the original ones,” said junior Keegan Huss, “These newer ones are just not it.”
“I feel as if Disney has been slacking on picking characters that truly resemble the animation and drawings. Honestly, they should also choose a person of the race of the character who portrays that character in both looks and acting. Each character has different looks because they’re from different locations,” says junior Alexandria Bostic.
He continues, “The media has changed from posters, to radio, to film, [and] to the internet…But the common thread is the ability to use that media to have an impact on the thinking of the population.” Former Hawk Isabella Rivera said of the book, “I really loved how the book tied into the other four, and there were zero loopholes. Everything lined up so well, as if [Collins] had this planned all along.” Senior Maggie Dawson adds that she, “thoroughly enjoyed the snippets of songs throughout the novel – including the background of “The Hanging Tree,” and even the inclusion of, “Nothing You Can Take From Me.””
Dawson continues that picking one sad moment during the book’s plot is hard, “because the book was so full circle, it was like
“I am
KENDALL WALTER Sports Editor
The game Minecraft has been around since 2011, and it is a core memory for many of the kids in North Harford today, as was the release of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie in October 2023. Two years ago, the production for “A Minecraft movie” started, according to IMDB.
The trailer for the movie just recently came out with… mixed reactions. The trailer showed the movie taking a different approach to the world of Minecraft. Instead of a 3-D animated movie in the same style as Minecraft: Story Mode, the creators of the movie used live-action inside a semi-realistic Minecraft world
Due to the Snow White box office failure, “The fate of Disney’s live-action projects will likely rest on the performances of “Lilo & Stitch” and “Moana.” Should they disappoint, any hopes for a “Tangled” or “Frozen” live-action remake can only be left to the imagination,” said Livestyle. inquierer.net.
Despite live-actions supposedly acting as a financial cushion, these movies are costing more money. “Disney’s animated titles have generally hovered beneath the $200 million line, with the exception of “Wish” and “Tangled.” Meanwhile, their live-action counterparts have more commonly passed the $200 million mark with “The Lion King” ($260 million), “Beauty and the Beast” ($255 million), “Mufasa: The Lion King” ($200 million), “The Little Mermaid” ($240 million), “Mulan” ($200 million), and most recently “Snow White,” according to Livestyle.inquierer.
every sad moment combined together because,” like Rivera stated, “it all just intertwined.” She continues, “I keep having to remind myself that Haymitch was only 17 when he went through this, and we see how this affects him for the rest of the series.” Rivera says that, in her opinion, “I think Maysilee’s death might’ve been one of the ones to hurt me the most because [she and Haymitch] didn’t really like each other, but then they grew on each other and then were torn apart.” Dawson finishes that while the book can be taken in many ways, “I think a huge part of the matter is that this happened to Haymitch because of [President] Snow’s pettiness to District 12 because of what happened with Lucy Gray Baird…I mean, in general, we now know why Haymitch is the way he is.”
Steve”
the Orb of Dominance and the Earth Crystal, powerful magical objects that have controlling properties, which are being used to dominate the overworld. This orb (although cubed in shape) also opens a portal from the real world to the overworld.
Social media quickly took hold of the trailer right away, making jokes of all the phrases inside. Ones to note are “This is a crafting table,” or “Chicken Jockey!” referring to a type of monster seen in the game. Steve is played by actor and comedian Jack Black, who has voiced popular characters like Bowser in the Mario Movie, Po in Kung Fu Panda, as well as the popular role of Oberon in the movies Jumanji and Jumanji: The Next Level.
Junior Sophia Fox explains that she thinks “visually, Jack Black fits the concept,” yet she also feels that “he just plays himself as the character he is given.” Further explaining this, she explains that Steve has no actual personality given to players of the game, so Black may have been a good fit to give the character as well as the movie, a “charismatic” approach to it.
The plot of the movie includes a quest to save the overworld from the Nether using
This orb is shown in the recent game Minecraft: Dungeons, calling people from outside worlds into the overworld, much like the movie. There seems to be a connection between the movie and Minecraft: Dungeons that could suggest a crossover and canon of the Minecraft movie. Fox adds that the producers “could have made the story so much more” and that “introducing new concepts that aren’t in the real-life game made it odd.”
Another note for the movie was the unseriousness of it all, which is a key reason why it is so popular with teens currently. For example, Garret the Garbage Man Garrison was an unrealistic character, dressing in full ‘80s gear, speaking halfway in Spanish, and striving to be constantly tough and cool. Yet, he is a fan-favorite character in the movie (besides Steve) due to the love he is getting on platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, according to Fox.
On the jokes in the movie, Fox says that, “A lot of the jokes were good; they went with a mature approach which gave them more room to work with.” She also adds that “the best jokes were the gestures and actions of the characters, rather than the things that were said.” Fox finished by talking about how the side story of the villager and actress Jennifer Coolidge added a fun gag and helped tie into the randomness of the movie as a whole.
Class of 2025
Abigail Freer- Harford Community College
Abigail Podowski-Undecided
Abigail Szramka-Christopher Newport University
Adam Kaminski-Harford Community College
Addison Edwards-University of Maryland
Adelia Windle-Undecided
Adrianna McCluskey-West Virginia University
Aiva Perron-Hardford Community College
Alayna Shrodes-Mercer University
Alecia Schildtknecht-Delaware Valley University
Alexander Heinecke-Undecided
Alexia Cole-Johnson & Wales University
Alexia Gott-Harford Community College
Allyson Knott- Delaware Valley University
Alyssa Kobus-Undecided
Alyza Robinson-Lander University
Amanda Walker-Stevenson University
Amelia Joyner-Undecided
Andi Ford-Undecided
Andrea Jones-Utah State University
Andreas Clark-Military
Andrew Sharff-Harford Community College
Andrew Tagliaferri-Undecided
Angelo Rico-Undecided
Ann Warren-Harford Community College
Anna Carbonell-Undecided
Anna Duffy-Salisbury University
Anthony Valentino-United States Airforce
Areya Parker-Harford Community College
Arie Howell-Work Force
Ariel Stinebaugh-Undecided
Ashley Calligaro-Stevenson University
Ashley Schillaci-University of Delaware
Ashlyn Sellers-Undecided
Ashleigh Mettee-Undecided
Aubrey Lawson-Undecided
Audrey Bullock-Harford Community College
Austin Hahn-Undecided
Austin Young-Undecided
Autumn Lovett-Stevenson University
Ava Mimms-Undecided
Ava Wimer-Harford Community College
Ayaan Osman-Undecided
Bailey Smith-Paul Mitchell The School Delaware
Bianca Baker-St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Bode Evans-Harford Community College
Brady Rutch-Undecided
Brendan Zang-Coastal Carolina University
Brianna Billings-Nichols College
Brianna Cloude-Stevenson University
Chloe Litteral-Harford Community College
Christian Armetta-Harford Community College
Christian Cockerham-Employment
Claire Keenan-Elizabethtown College
Clayton McGraw-Harford Community College
Cody Deak-Undecided
Cole Akins-Undecided
Cole Gann-Undecided
Cole Schultz-University of Maryland
Colin Moore-Harford Community College
Collin Auclair-Towson University
Conner O’Dell-Undecided
Brianna Seiser-Harford Community College
Brooke Bates-Work Force
Brooke Carter-Undecided
Brooke McElwain- University of Findlay
Brooklynn Brown-Harford Community College
Brihanna Guido-Harford Community College
Bryn Cespedes-Undecided
Cael Sims- West Point University
Caleb Kerr-Saint Vincent College
Calvin Marron-Harford Community College
Camrian Brewer-Harford Community College
Chancellor Kobus-Undecided
Charlize Johnson-Undecided
Charlotte Erisman-Stevenson University
Chase Crawford-Undecided
Chase Thomas-Undecided
Chelsea Cortes-Undecided
Cooper Thurman-Undecided
Corrin Turner-York College
Coulter Parsons-Harford Community College
Dakota Bonaccorsi-Salisbury University
Daniella Callahan-Cosmetology
Deanna Zipp-St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Delaina Yingling-Harford Community College
Delaney Heffner-Undecided
Demetrious Densmore-Harford Community College
Destiny Crowley-Harford Community College
Diego Gonzales-Harford Community College
Donald Mullins-Undecided
Drew Keener-Bloomsburg University
Dylan Crouse-Undecided
Eden Hussung-University of Maryland
Elizabeth O’Brien-University of New England
Ellie Connolly-Harford Community College
Emily Signor-Army National Guard
Emily Simmons-Undecided
Emma Clayton-Stevenson University
Emma Naik-Harford Community College
Ethan Drewry-Undecided
Ethan Grambo-Undecided
Ethan Milburne-Undecided
Evan Oswald-Undecided
Franky Lamb-Undecided
Fawn Harvey-Undecided
Frank DeLucia-University of Maryland
Gabriel Harris-Undecided
Gage Williamson-Baltimore County Cadet
Garret Hughes-Undecided
Gavin Herr-Harford Community College
Gavin Redding-Employment
George Feldbush-United States Coastal Guard
George Gephardt-Undecided
Gideon Robinson-Undecided
Grace Bauer-Delaware Valley University
Grace Cassidy-Harford Community College
Grace Mueller-Stevenson University
Hailey McCann-Undecided
Hailie Herring-Undecided
Hannah Arnold-St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Hannah Kawaihae-Salisbury University
Harley Goforth-Harford Community College
Harley Weisman-University of Montana
Holden Young-Undecided
Hudson McCrea-Flordia Gulf Coast University
Ian Lewis-Geneva College
Isabel Kropkowski-Stevenson University
Isabella Fisher-Employment
Isabella Harrison-Harford Community College
Isabella Matson-Towson University
Isabella Santana-Community College Baltimore County
Jack Clayton-Undecided
Jack O’Connor-Undecided
Jack Worden-Coastal Carolina University
Jackson Armiger-Neumann University
Jacob Crowl-Undecided
Jacob Jestel-University of Maryland
Jacob Tompkins-United States Marine Corps
Jacob Turner-Harford Community College
Jadyn Kufera-Undecided
Jaeda Thompson-Harford Community College
Jake Reynolds-Undecided
Jake Rosenberger-Undecided
Jamail Holmes-Mount Aloysius College
James Cassidy-University of Maryland
James Haire-Harford Community College
Jameson Isennock-Undecided
Jameson Selby- Mount St. Mary’s College
Jamie Berigtold-Stevenson University
Jazmin Cox-United States Air Force
Jenna Roh-St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Jenna Trzeciak-Harford Community College
Jillian Moore-Stevenson University
Jocelyn Bickler-Undecided
Joel Reed-Undecided
Jonathan Moore-Undecided
Jonathan Sappington-Harford Community College
Jonathan VanBuskirk-University of Maryland
Jordan Lawson-Indiana Institute of Technology
Joseph Ucciferro- Towson University
Joshua Bennett-Undecided
Joshua Steltzer-Gwynedd Mercy University
Joy Shore-Harford Community College
Julia Pfarr-Harford Community College
Julia Underwood-Salisbury University
Justin Collins-University of Maryland
Kainoah Merritt-Undecided
Katie Jones-Hood College
Karsen Thomas-Harford Community College
Kavin Carter-Harford Community College
Kenneth McMahon-Undecided
Kevin Vanhart-Undecided
Khaya Ndebele-Undecided
Kiley Anders-Undecided
Kimberly Allen-Harford Community College
Kimberly Sawyer-Harford Community College
Kira-Victoria Holt-Towson University
Kora Niebel-Trade
Kylee Niederberger-Villanova University
Leyna Piaskowski-Undecided
Liam Brenner-United States Army
Lila Sturm-Undecided
Lilian Dean-Undecided
Matthew Larkin-Harford Community College
Maxwell Perlin-Undecided
Meghan Kingsley-Loyola University of Maryland
Melena Tidwell-Undecided
Meredith Coakley-Harford Community College
Mia Sbodio-Towson University
Michael DeJesus-Stevenson University
Miles Reid-Undecided
Liliana McGraw-Millersville University
Lillian Heath-University of Tennessee
Lilliana Weber-Undecided
Lily Corcoran-Harford Community College
Logan Jacobson-Undecided
Logan Kerrigan-United States Marine Corps
Logan Rakestraw-Undecided
Lola Steele-Shippensburg University
London Blankenship-Harford Community College
Lorelai Glenn-Undecided
Lucas Parks-Undecided
Lukas Smithson-Frostburg State University
Lylla Hanif-University of Maryland Baltimore County
Madelyn Smick-Salisburg University
Madelynn Bishop-Harford Community College
Madyson Pullen-Staiger-Elizabethtown College
Maggie Dawson-Salisbury University
Makenzie Carter-Undecided
Mariah Messick-Harford Community College
Marissa Pawley-University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Madison Spangler-Randolph Macon COllege
Mason French-University of Maryland
Mason Wedge-Community College Baltimore County
Matthew Carico-Harford Community College
Matthew Hart-Coastal Carolina University
Samuel Kleback-Harford Community College followed by Univeristy of Maryland
Skye Luckow-United States Air Force
Skylar McClellan-Undecided
Sophia Lyon-Harford Community College
Sophia Misner-Undecided
Sophie Deibler-James Madison University
Sophie Smith-Coastal Carolina University
Sydney Stoneback-Undecided
Tessa Grove-North Carolina State University
Tommy Blankenship-Undecided
Tucker Deal-Penn State Harrisburg
Tyler Hartner-Employment
Vincent LePore-Undecided
Waverly Iriarte-Columbia University
Willow Elliot-Maryland Institute of Nail Technology
Yahey Eid-Harford Community College
Yasmin Fitzpatrick-Harford Community College
Zachary Alexander-Harford Community College
Zachary Mullins-Undecided
Zachery Braun-United States Marine Corps
Zoe Barnes-Towson University
3 hrs early
Art Guild saves dogs from euthanasia
LILY CORCORAN Copy Editor
For the past month, members of the NHHS Art Guild have been working on ‘poorly done pet portrait’ commissions for the Adopt a Homeless Animal (AAHA) Rescue in order to give pitbulls from Prince George’s County loving homes. The organization, which was founded in 2001, “aim[s] to raise awareness and education about this very misunderstood breed of dog” (AAHA Rescue).
The club, led by art teacher Mr. Jason Blevins, used their artistic abilities and a variety of mediums to create comedic portraits of pets whose owners donated to the cause, including dogs named Billy and Cricket, as well as a bunny. According to math teacher Mrs. Wenke Green, the non-profit was able to “help three more pups to safety from [Wednesday, April 24’s] euthanasia list at PG Shelter.”
A dog named Ruby, along with a sibling pair named Penelope and Saint, were lucky enough to make it off the list just in time. The organization continues, “and sweet Rowdy, who we started this fundraiser for, is now living with the mom of his previous owner.”
If students or staff are interested in getting involved with the organization, they can visit www.aaha-rescue.org/take-action for more information on volunteering and fostering.
Teachers transform freshmen’s year; Impactful changes from educators
ASHLEY SCHILLACI
Reporter and the supportive environment she creates in her classroom,” whether it's through engaging in lessons or just “making stuff fun.”
Most students have that one teacher who was special to them during their high school career. High school can be an intimidating place for freshmen after coming straight from middle school. The transition can be full of challenges – from navigating the school to increased academic pressures – but having a supportive teacher can make all the difference. For freshman Ashlynn Bellamy, English teacher Ms. Kathleen Lemke is that teacher.
“Ms. Lemke was the teacher who changed my freshman year,” said Bellamy. Bellamy describes
Bellamy says to the incoming freshman that “you should definitely get involved in clubs and try your best in all classes and be kind to others.”
Along with Bellamy, another freshman, Cohen Armstrong, had some commentary on a teacher that changed his freshman year.
“Ms. Harrell and Ms. Lawson have changed my freshman year,” Armstrong explained. “Their support and teaching strategies have made me learn better and more.” Harrell is an “ incredible
5/26
Schools closed Memorial Day
5/28
Graduation
6/20
Last day of school for students
NH begins transition of power; New school politics in play
KATIE VANARSDALE SSC Editor
The Student Government Association, SGA for short, is the second largest club at North Harford High School. With over one-hundred-and-fifty members, the SGA has a large impact on the different events hosted at the school.
This club is single-handedly responsible for the blood drives, homecoming, winter dance, and craft show, which is no easy feat. Every March, the club elects its new officers for the following school year.
This year, campaigning started on March 17 and ran until voting began on April 10, when the student body began to cast its votes.
“I feel [elections] could have been better organized; there was lots of miscommunication that confused students,” said sophomore Anastacia Stewart, who was elected as the junior class president and fundraising chair. One of the miscommunications was the changing of the voting
dates. Elections ended officially on April 14, with results being released after dismissal the next day.
“I had participated in SGA for a few years and was looking for a formal position in our student government. Senior Class President became the choice for me when I realized I wanted to represent my class as a whole,” said junior Patrick Green, who ran unopposed for the senior class president position. “I plan to establish a closer connection with SGA executive members and other class presidents, to establish a strong union throughout the school, promoting change and prosperity,” adds Green.
“The event I am most excited for is Prom and [the] basket bingo. I can’t wait to plan these events; basket bingo has been so fun to plan in the past and Prom is going to be a new exciting event to plan,” said Stewart. “I am most excited for next year [to try] to bring back some old events that the school used to do.”
“Honestly, I feel great knowing that there are friends of mine and other people at the school who wanted me as their president,” said Monica Carranza-Baide, the new sophomore class president, “since it’s my first time in such a big role, I’m taking this position as a way to learn a set of goals that will benefit the future sophomore class.
The new executive board president, junior Mikayla Dawson, is excited to “[be] a part of starting new traditions here at North Harford and helping to create lifelong memories that people can carry with them.”
“SGA has been a remarkable experience for me and I have been able to learn so many new things [during] my time as the president. My advice to the future officers is to rely on those that are willing to help you because you will not be able to get it all done by yourself. It will take a village for the events to go on!” said senior Lillian Heath, who served as the past SGA board president.
Juniors Dylan Fulp and Keegan Huss
Senior Lucas Parks and junior Abby Simmons
Juniors Olivia Manns and Garrett Wilson
Seniors Brendan Zang and Mollie Fialcowitz
Softball is back in action; Girls
Tennis team showing highlights
share their thoughts on season
BROOKLYNN BROWN
Reporter for the season, she says, is to “focus on my skills and how to improve them.” She shares that the team has been doing “very well so far.” Aungst added that they’re all looking forward to a winning season.
The softball season started on March 21 with a 10-0 win against Joppatowne High School. The varsity team consists of thirteen players, four being seniors, including Brianna Billings, Mariah Messick, Jenna Trzeciak, and Ava Wimer. Billings and Trzeciak act as senior captains.
Aungst added she listens to music to get in a winning headspace in preparation for games.
As a first-year varsity player, she notes that it feels “accomplished and exciting.” For upcoming seasons, she shares her goals are to “keep improving throughout the seasons.”
Senior Mariah Messick says she has been playing softball for “twelve years.” Her goal for the season is to “enjoy my last season with these girls and play the best that I can.” She shares that they all have “outgoing personalities” and they all just “love to have fun.”
To prepare for a game, she says she makes sure to “push away all of my worries and stresses,” so it doesn’t affect her game and how she plays. Messick says she’s been playing since I was just a little girl, and it’s “all I’ve ever known to play.” She says she feels “most comfortable and most confident” playing softball.
Freshman Alyssa Aungst adds she has been playing softball for about ten years. Aungst also plays on the local travel team, the Hickory Hornets. Her goal
Junior varsity is also back on the field. They kicked off their season on March 26 against C. Milton Wright with a score of 7-6. Their captains include sophomores Olivia Beattie and Cece Ryba.
Sophomore Breanna Workman shares that the season is “going good so far,” and adds that with most of them not knowing each other outside of softball or school, “we all get along really well.”
Workman shares that the team has a lot of potential but says, “Sometimes, not everyone puts in all their effort into the sport.”She commented on their strengths and weaknesses, stating, “We’re really good at cheering for each other and being supportive, but we really need to work on hustling when needed in game time.”
She shares that she has been playing softball since fourth grade, and what she most likes about the sport is the “teamwork. port between teammates.”
ADRIANA EBBERTS Reporter
As the North Harford High School tennis season nears its conclusion, players have reflected on their favorite memories, the qualities they value in a coach, and how they manage the demands of academics alongside athletics.
Sophomore Rebecca Roberts shared that her favorite memory has been spending time with the upperclassmen, enjoying the trips to other schools for matches, and learning from her older teammates. “Just being able to learn from them and hang out with them has been a blast,” she said. Freshman Ashlyn Dyke recalled a humorous moment during a match against C. Milton Wright when Roberts accidentally hit the coach with a ball. Senior Arie Howell’s favorite tradition was leading the team’s pre-match chant: “Hawks on three.” For sophomore Marlin Carranza-Baide, earning her first win stood out as a significant moment, giving her a strong sense of accomplishment. Junior Eric Valenza looked back on a match against Havre de Grace, where he faced an opponent twice and both matches went into double tiebreakers.
When it comes to coaching, the players emphasized the importance of support and growth. Roberts explains the need for a coach who not only motivates but also provides constructive criticism while keeping the experience fun. Valenza pointed out that confidence-building and leniency on difficult days are important traits. Similarly, Howell appreciated coaches who genuinely care about their players’ success. Dyke noted the value of a supportive coach who encourages players even when mistakes are made, while Baide said she prefers coaches who offer feedback without embarrassing players in front of teammates.
Looking forward, the players expressed excitement for the season’s closing events. Roberts was anticipating Senior Day, where she looked forward to watching the seniors play and celebrating at the end-of-season banquet. Howell enjoyed participating in Senior Night, mentioning that her family came to watch her match against Rising Sun, where she secured a win. Both Dyke and Baide mentioned that they were looking forward to making final memories with the team at the banquet. Valenza, meanwhile, is focused on the competitive aspect, hoping to make a strong showing at regionals with a goal of advancing to the state tournament.
Balancing academics and tennis is a challenge many sports players manage carefully. Roberts prioritizes good grades by completing most of her work during school hours and occasionally using study hall before practices. Valenza emphasized the importance of communication with teachers to navigate missed work and manage academic responsibilities. Howell organizes her schoolwork by dedicating her free days to completing assignments. Dyke says she typically finishes her assignments during school or after practices at home, while Baide takes a structured approach, ensuring she studies every day and is willing to miss a practice if necessary to maintain her academic performance.
As the season winds down, the tennis team continues to focus on both personal development and team camaraderie, reflecting on a season filled with competition, friendship, and growth both on and off the court, according to the players.
Track team flying to forefront; Students comment on new personal bests
LILA PARRY News Editor
North Harford High school track and field has had a successful season so far, with many meets completed and a few more to go the team is continuing to improve.
Junior Kendall Chandler says the season has started off well. Chandler mainly runs the 800, 1600, and 4x800 meter relay. “The first meet was really cold and windy, but I was very happy with how my races went, considering the conditions,” stated Chandler.
Fellow junior Tyler Lamont competes in the 400, 800, 4x800, and the triple jump. He says the season has been really good so far. “I’ve been able to set a whole bunch of PR’s in all my events,” stated Lamont.
Lamont is hoping to continue getting more personal records in the upcoming meets. “I want to go sub 54 seconds in the 400 and go sub 2:10 in the open 800,” the junior explained.
took place at Harford Tech High School on April 4. “Everyone was really excited to be there and to be racing, and the environment was just really exciting,” the junior explained, “The 4x800 was
ter relay doing well throughout the season, the boys team has been improving as well. The boys 4x800 team consists of junior Reese Conklin, seniors Jacob Jestel and Justin Collins, and Lamont. Lamont says he's excited to “have the opportunity to possibly go to states for our 4x800 team.”
Along with running the 4x800, Chandler also ran the sprint medley relay (SMR) and the distance medley relay (DMR). “I had the opportunity to race the SMR, which was super fun because I got to run with sprinters and a group of girls that I would not normally get to run with.”
Freshmen Clara Peterson and McKenna Tidwell, senior Madelyn Smick, and Chandler all took part in the SMR. The team ran it in 4:43.5 and placed second out of all the teams.
PHOTO CREDIT: North Harford XCTF
As the team is heading into their last few meets, Lamont reflects on what he has enjoyed most in this season. The junior says he's had fun “hanging out with the guys at practice and at meets.”
Along with Lamont, Chandler also reflects on what she's enjoyed most from the season so far.
“My favorite part of the season so far was Cobra relays,” said Chandler. Cobra relays
the first event and I ran first leg, so I was a little nervous to get out there but was able to PR the 800 for my split and Eden [Hussung, senior], Mallory [McCartney, sophomore], and Maddi [Coyle, sophomore] were all able to run personal records and season bests too,” she continued. The team was able to place first by running the relay in 10:12.6 minutes. Along with the girls 4x800 me-
“This season, I have definitely been working hard to go into races with confidence and trying to run them a little smarter,” said Chandler.
This mindset has helped Chandler run stronger races.
“A big part of the growth I have already demonstrated this season, however, has been because I have been able to focus on how grateful I am to have the ability and opportunity to compete and that every race is an opportunity to glorify the Lord,” the junior explained.
The varsity softball team discusses strategies on the field during one of their games.
PHOTO CREDIT: Brianna Billings
The girls 4x800 meter relay team placed second at the Art Madric Invite. The Hawks will continue to improve throughout the season.
Striking out the competition Baseball season provides NH success
SARAH SUMMERFIELD News Editor
This year has been very successful when it comes to North Harford baseball.
With varsity coach Mr. Jeff Burrows and junior varsity coach Mr. Craig Gibson leading the way, players are looking forward to advancing far and having fun. “I just love the sport, and I’m excited to win more games and have a good time,” says freshman Logan Murphy. Junior Dennis Winkler agrees and adds that he wants to “continue our winning season and hopefully get a state title.”
“I think we’ve got a good shot,” concludes senior Tucker Deal. “[My favorite thing about coaching] is to see the improvement of the kids playing and seeing them have success. Not everyone has success all the time, so when they do, it means a lot,” says Burrows on his twenty-fifth year of being a baseball coach. There are so many fond memories that have come from this team, as exclaimed by many players and coaches. Sophomore Jedd Carll reminisces about his favorite moment this
season, when he hit a walk-off for varsity. “That was a very exciting moment in my baseball [career],” he explains.
Lacrosse stays unbeatable on field
ASHLEY SCHILLACI News Editor
Lacrosse is more than just a sport and game; it’s a way of life and dedication for many high school athletes.
tive to stay motivated. “I’m not getting a lot of playing time, so that kind of motivates me to try to impress my coach, my friends, and teammates, and impress myself. [I am pushing myself to] beat out my teammates – not in a mean way, of course, but just to show that I can play.”
As for the JV team, their motivators are very similar. While freshman Lucas Bell and sophomore Jacob Babiak mainly get their drive from winning, Murphy adds in the idea of having a good time out on the field: “Just getting out there is fun, so that is what motivates me.”
Number 22, Tyler Fialcowists heading up to bat during a game posing for a picture. The Hawks final win-lost record is at 15-4.
PHOTO CREDIT: Coach Fialcowitz
Motivation is a key part of any sport, and junior Ty Deal thinks that the best way to find it is to focus on the challenge baseball provides. “Thinking about the challenging parts of the game and staying in shape helps me the most,” Carll adds. He also continues that doing good for his team makes him feel good, while Tucker Deal says his dad inspires him to do better. In addition to that, Winkler shares his incen-
Balancing athletics and academics can be hard, but the baseball team has many ways to work around it. Murphy expresses the importance of doing your best in both circumstances.“I try my best to work hard in class [in order for me to] get out on the field and work just as hard.” Committed to playing a sport while you are a full-time student can be tough, and many players like Winkler and Carll attest to the late hours that they have spent doing homework.
Staying active while spreading kindness
ASHLEY SCHILLACI Reporter
The North Harford boys lacrosse team is ready to fight for their wins and come to play. If these Hawks lose, they won’t lose by much. The 2024-2025 season will consist of 13 games in total, with playoffs right after the regular season.
This season, the boys are being led by four captains: Senior Chase Thomas and juniors Gavin Zamenski, Carter Priet, and Cameron Beresh. These four captains, along with their team, show teamwork and commitment on the field. From training before the season started to having practice every day after school, the players showed their dedication to the team. They started the season with a win against Northeast High School, 11-7.
Priet (close defense), has been playing lacrosse for ten years and has been playing for the school since freshman year. Priet exclaimed, “Bel Air High School is the game I look forward to because it is always a good game.” His goals for the season are to “continue to get better at the sport and to get back to one hundred percent after my injury,” striving to finish the season strong with no injuries and still recovering from
the first. The relationships they can have with teammates when it comes to sports can be strong; the way students bond as a team brings deep connections. Priet adds, “My relationships with my teammates are great. Some of my best friends are on the team, and I have played with a couple of teammates since middle school.”
Zamenski (close defense) has also been playing for around ten years and has been playing for the school since his freshman year. Zamenski stated that C. Milton Wright was his favorite game that was player. “We played a lot of good defense and had a close game with one of the better teams in the county,” said Zamenski. The game was held on April 3 at 7pm and had a final score of 8-4 with C. Milton Wright taking the win.
Zamenski stated, “Being a captain is fun; you get to lead the team and also go out for the coin toss.” It is a great opportunity to motivate the team and set the tone for the game, which means “getting hyped up and staying that way throughout the game,” and showing dedication on the field.
Priet and Zamenski explain that “the season is progressing excellently; besides one tough loss, we are doing great and making progress at every practice.” The Hawks continue to grow and progress throughout the season, leading to the playoffs after the regular season.
Girls Lax finishes season
KENDALL WALTER
Sports Editor
The Sports for Life basketball game took place on April 14 at Havre De Grace High School, with teams from all around the county competing against each other. More than 95 athletes across HCPS showed off their skills that afternoon. The Hawks set out on their first game against the Flinks. Sophomore Alex Stoots had a passing assist to freshman Michael Breznicky for a shot at the hoop and scoring for the Hawks. The final score of the Hawks and Flinks was 10-12, with the Flinks taking the win. The second game the Hawks played was against Edgewood High School, with a final score of 18-18, tied with a buzzer basket by senior Sam DiBastiani. Go Hawks! Special educa tion teacher Mrs. Kolbi Stahl, the coach of the team, gave some history on the beginning of Sports for Life. “It began with [the] basketball team at C. Mil ton Wright High in 1999. Then, the following year, NHHS – with coaches Lin James and Chris Fellen baum – and Bel Air High joined with teams for [the] Basketball spring season.” Since then, NHHS has joined the community with a team average of “ten to 15 teammates,” said Stahl.One of these teammates, junior Reese Conklin, has said, “It is a chance to get to work with the athletes and play a variety of sports with a good group of people.” The goals of this team are to “have fun and to form relationships between disabled and non-disabled students through sports,” explained Stahl, along with Conklin.
The Hawks huddle up before the game, discuss ing their strategies for gaining the win. The team tied their basketball game against Edgewood High School with a score of 18-18.
For the team to improve, practices are held in the mornings on Mondays and Wednesdays during homeroom. The team prepared for victory by “working on different types of passes and scrimmaging to practice how the game will be” explained Conklin. Stahl also added, “there is a lot of hype up [before] and during the games. Everyone is constantly building each other up and cheering for their teams and all participants on the court.”The atmosphere is “electric” and “exciting,” with spectators cheering on their favorite teams and the players giving their all on the court. Conklin says that his favorite part about Sports for Life is “getting to know all the athletes and having a good time.”
The NHHS girls lacrosse team has had its two biggest games in the same week. On April 14 and 16, the girls played Fallston High School at the Hawks' Nest and at C. Milton Wright, respectively. In both these games, the girls lost, losing by seven points in the game against Fallston and ten against CMW. As of May 9th, the team's record is 9-4 W-T-L
The varsity team is coached by Coach Haley Ford and co-coach Soule, while JV is coached by Coach Sam Preston. The Varsity team's captains are senior Reagan Cadden (defense), senior Julia Underwood (defensive middie), junior Olivia Bloom (attack), and senior Brooke McElwain (goalie).
PHOTO CREDIT: Kolbi Stahl
All of the teams had some time before to warm up with their passing, shooting, and stretching. The sound of the sneakers squeaking on the court, the swish of the ball going through the net, and the enthusiastic shouts from the crowd create an exhilarating experience for each and every player. Each play from the Hawks showed their skills and progression. The game is not just about winning, but forming bonds and friendships.
The Hawks celebrated their senior night on April 28, congratulating their nine seniors that they have on the team. Seniors include Sophie Deibler, Eliza Robinson, Natalie Barndt, Maddie Pullen-Staiger, Underwood, Cadden, McElwain, and the managers, Maggie Dawson and Natalie Bishop. During this game, the Hawks played Patterson Mill, starting the game at 5:30. Freshman Lexi Warfel started playing lacrosse in second grade and this year made varsity. She says that she started playing lacrosse due to her dad suggesting it. She mentioned the fact that during this time she did cheer
and chose lacrosse over cheer. Warfel says that her best positions to play are “mid and attack, I love scoring, but I enjoy playing defense.” The freshman adds that the skills she tried to practice the most is using her offhand and her shooting. Warfel notes, “I practice my left by doing wall ball and shooting by using a goal cover so only certain shots make it.”
One of the team managers, Dawson, says that being the manager is like being the team's “personal hype-woman.” She says that her history with lacrosse goes back to when she was four. She started out playing with some of the same girls who are on the team now. According to Dawson, “My friends are one of the biggest reasons I stayed,” adding, “It's like a sisterhood and I could never back out completely.” Dawson says, “While I'm not playing on the field, I always try to show up and be there off the field,” encouraging and supporting the team and her friends through games and practices.
Dawson also takes pictures during the games, capturing moments on and off the field. She uses this as a unique way of helping to motivate the team. She says “I always hope that the idea that someone is taking pictures of them makes them want to play harder and be more showing.”